Formative Experiences

This is our final episode for season 1. We look forward to returning in 2023.

 I have come to firmly believe that that the primary difference between teens who lived out their faith beyond college and those who didn't is when teens serve alongside their parent. This doesn't diminish the need to teach and talk about faith with them. But is probably most connected to a parent who is living out their faith and doing it with their teen. The Sum of your life is more valuable than the words you say. Parents and adults -- live out your faith with your teens if you want to see them continue in the faith. 

Teen exposure to pornography has grown significantly. Porn is a dangerous and sleazy imitation of the beautiful union that God designed it to be.  John Paul II said: “There is no dignity when the human dimension is eliminated from the person. In short, the problem with pornography is not that it shows too much of the person, but that it shows far too little.” Things you can do to prevent access to pornography: Phone settings and Parental Controls Iphone has a new Sexting Filter AA type groups for anyone addicted to porn xxxchurch.com has great tools to help

If your teen is on social media they are having a bad experience with it. No one walks away from scrolling social media for 20 minutes and feels better about themselves. Teens often have less of a resiliency than we as adults do to bounce back.  How should we address this as 1. Be curious Are you using your phone a lot? Are you looking at things that are healthy 2. Establish boundaries. Require or encourage a social media fast 3. Model healthy habits. Its easier to hide behind a screen than to live out the vulnerability that living life in person requires. Slang of the day Buy the Dip

INsecurity has always been an issue for teens and it has played itself out in different ways. One of the ways insecurity is most obvious is that some teens try to face their insecurity through the way they dress and the way they act.  What to do as parents Look for warning signs - Social media - what are the posting… are they drawing attention to themselves - Words they use - are they attention seeking? - Dress - are they confident or trying to stand out for the purpose of standing out Examine what you are teaching them in your home Perhaps they dont have a high opinion of your self or even think that God made a mistake. But the bible has a very different message Everyone has a seat at the table Every life has worth and value Verses to Use with Your Teens  https://drive.google.com/file/d/199qJ1mWFv1fDkCGwGCIzDmsTLGOnxc1h/view?ts=628e5815

Gratitude cannot coexist with depression. Gratitude can help combat the me-focused culture we live in today. Gratitude has many benefits… how can we teach our teens to be grateful? Appreciate the things Around You Appreciate Yourself Gratitude journal Winstreak (Download the App)

We have two options : Take the easy road - avoids conflict, avoids difficult conversations or we can engage teens. Don’t be silent about things that matter. You are part of a chorus of people training teens to launch. You dont have to have the answer – but you can be the person to  bring up the conversation. Where a void of knowledged exists we make up our own facts

By every measurement anxiety among teens has grown significantly. And should we be surprised? Over the past years teens have been trapped in their homes surrounded by screens, screens which by most accounts increase anxiety. Teens compare their lives to the beautiful lives of others on social media teens conclude that are not good enough, smart enough, or pretty enough. Unfortunately, as anxiety has risen among teens so have suicides and suicide attempts (https://health.ucdavis.edu/health-news/newsroom/even-before-covid-19-pandemic-youth-suicide-already-at-record-high/2021/04) . Suicide attempts had been going up before the pandemic. This has been evidenced at my son’s middle school as well as through nationwide statistics. What can we do about it? Share Hope Live Life In Person Help Teens Develop Long Term Dreams

Summer time is a great time to give your teen the formative experiences they desparately need. Look for a camp... spiritual or for one of their interests that can help propel them forward in life. Not sure where to send your kids to camp? check out www.YFCLincoln.org to learn more about our Summer Camp Experiences.

I was on a trip recently… 2 strong, strapping  middle school boys were crying within 3 hours of our arrival. Not because anyone picked on them or they were home sick, or they were hungry or in a new place… but they didn't have their screen. What can we do about it? Be curious Establish healthy boundaries Model healthy habits